Naby Keita is set to be given the No.8 shirt at Liverpool - the first person to wear the number since Steven Gerrard.

Midfielder Keita is finally preparing to start life on Merseyside this week having agreed a deal to join the Reds last August.

The Guinea international moved to Anfield for £53million after a long-drawn negotiation with RB Leipzig.

Jurgen Klopp begins Liverpool's pre-season training on July 2 for those not on World Cup duty - such as Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.

And according to the Liverpool Echo, Keita has requested to wear the iconic No.8 on his back in his highly anticipated debut season.

(Image: AFP)

It's the same number he wore at Leipzig and the 23-year-old has been signing autographs for Liverpool fans and writing the No 8 next to his name.

The number has been vacant since the summer of 2015, when Gerrard departed to move to LA Galaxy.

England hero Emile Heskey wore it before Gerrard, while the likes of Steve McManaman, John Aldridge, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Kevin Keegan have also worn the number at some point of the Anfield career.

Keita wore the No.8 shirt at Leipzig (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

Gerrard is the last player to wear No.8 for Liverpool (Image: Getty Images Sport Classic)